The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-25

minority UT " uidJDTlt1 ~ othci Woius
what are the true limits OF state action
Let us see for what was the Revolu
tionary war fought, and what was nc
complished thereby. When William the
Norman conquered England he, to q
great extent, overthrow the Anglo Saxon
polty, did away with the Wifinegamot,
or assembly of wise men. and all the
features OF ancient Friesland democracy,
and substituted in its stead the absolutes
principles Of Continental Europe. He
also inaugurated the Fcudal syetem and
partitioned the realm OF Eng
land among his warlike barons and
followers as rewards for their bravery
These became the mobiles of England and
together with the highest clergy formed
the great council of the king, and sup
piled him with means and soldiers for
the wars, and for this purpose alone was
this CONDITIONED 1t made no laws
1t was sometime in 1895 that the house
OF commons was separately organized
for the same purpose from this period
until the Revolutionary war the house OF
commons us governing element gained
in power and influence. The English
government was then what is termed a
limited monarchy composed of the king,
mobiles and commons. In that govern
ment there existed classes, ranks and in
eoualities and in these dwelt and was
lodged the sovereign power land by and
for the benefit and glory of these was
the government conducted and managed.
But the colonies were in theory govern
ed by the king and his tyranous minions
The great toiling millions OF commonal-
ity had no share or participationlin the
conduct Of the government, and they re-
ceived no direct benefit or advantage
from the government. except the passage
Of municipal laws for the mutual and di.
rect protection from the incroachmcnts
and injuries Of others than the governors.
Sometime in June, 1716, in "A Declare
ton of Rights made by the representa-
tves Of the good people Of Virginia, as
sembled, in free and full convention, y
this principle of freemen was enunciated,
That all men were born equally free
and independent. or rs in the Declare
tion Of independence. that 'All men are
created equal" And the further truth
was announced in both of said instru
menl, that all power is vested in
and consequently derived from the peo-
pie" The sovereign power of taxation
was exercised by the British government
against the American colonies without
any participation by the people OF the
colonies in the exercise of this sovereign
power. Against this wrongful exercise
of sovereign power they revolted, hence
the revolutionary war and the formation
of the American government based up
on the principle that all being equal all
should have an equal share in the con
duct. administration and benefit of gov
eminent. The result of the revolution
ary war was change in the form OF gov
eminent from limited monarchy to
that Of II republican democracy. Sow
ereignty was taken from the hands of a
few, the minority, and transferred into
the hands of all, where it naturally and
rightfully belonged, and where it has
ever since remained, and where ii al
WAYS will remain as long as our people
are virtuous. intelligent and independ-
ent, and as long as they do not permit
themselves to be influenced by dema-
gogues, wild and reckless political lead
ers, foreign corporations and the mo-
nopolistic money power The snbmls'
sion of this amendment to, and its ratl'
fication by the people, does not change
or in the least degree tend to change the
form of our government; 1t doesn'
shift or change the sovereign power
from the hands of the people into the
hands Of few, but it is in truth, a grand
exercise of democratic sovereignty by
all the people. So this objection sc
loudly urged, is without foundation. and
vanishes rs the mist before the rising
sun.
The principle involved in the present
controversy comes under the second gen
eral head mentioned above, that is does
the principle of prohibition come within
the proper sphere and true limits OF
state action?
What does the state exist for, and
what is the true object of the govern
mentY There are two theories on this
important subject; one that the state ex
lists only for protection, and the Other
that it exists not only for protection,
but also for other and nobler objects.
Our sources of information ia this COun
try are four-fold /. To our charters OF
liberty and opinions of our statesmen,
.. To the judicial opinions contained in
tbs reports of our courts of last resort
B. To the acts of our legislatures and thu
practical workings of our governments
i. To the theoretical writers OF Europe
In the section of the Declaration OF
Rights made in Jupe l7i6 Ly the Vir
genia convention, the grandest and most
complete charter OF liberties, born OF
the heart and brain of man, written by
Geo. Mason and James Madison anc
ratified and sanctioned by Thomas JEFF
fersor, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry,
Geo. Wythe and other patriots. we have
the following, That government is, OF
ought to be Instituted for the common
benefit, protection and securely of the